Durham vs Nampa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Durham
Nampa
The Verdict
Durham is 3.8% less expensive than Nampa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Durham would need approximately $77,970 in Nampa to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Durham has the same purchasing power as $77,970 in Nampa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $72,143 in Durham.
Living in Durham vs Nampa
Housing Costs
Durham's housing index of 104 is equal to Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $340,000 vs $371,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Durham compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 100 in Durham and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Durham vs $499/month in Nampa. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Durham and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Durham vs $332 in Nampa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Durham and 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $57,738 in Durham and $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,166 and $70,762 respectively. Nampa residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,347/month to housing in Durham vs $1,734/month in Nampa. In Durham, median rent of $1,400/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 13 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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